Chapter 82

Cole stood at the front and Aria stood beside him. Aren stood just slightly behind them both, hands clasped behind his back, his posture rigid.

Across the chamber, Erv waited, his smile too confident. Aren’s jaw tightened as his eyes shifted briefly to Aria. He noticed how she stood straight, her facial expression unreadable. She seemed calm on the outside. Too calm though. Too calm after not returning to her celebratory ceremony because her father attended.

He swallowed, praying in his heart. “Please do not reject him here. Not in this hall.”

Cole leaned slightly toward her, noticing her indifferent facial expression just like Aren did. “I should have told you about your father.” He brought it up even when she told him she no longer wanted to talk about it since yesterday.

No response came from her so he went on. “I did not mean to take that choice from you. I did plan to tell you, I just… forgot…”

Her face remained composed. “I know,” she said quietly